Asin Thottumkal Biography

Name:Asin Thottumkal

Date of Birth:26 October 1985 

Place of Birth:Cochin, Kerala, India

Nationality:Indian

Occupation:Actress, Model, Stage performer

Years Active:2001–present

Home town:Kochi

Parents:Joseph Thottumkal & Dr. Seline Thottumkal

Asin Thottumkal , known mononymously as Asin, is an Indian film actress, model and stage performer who acts primarily in Bollywood and Kollywood.

Making her acting debut in Sathyan Anthikkad's Malayalam film Narendra Makan Jayakanthan Vaka (2001), Asin had her first commercial success with the Telugu film Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi in 2003, and won a Filmfare Best Telugu Actress Award for the film. Its remake M. Kumaran son of Mahalakshmi (2004) was her debut in Tamil and it was a huge success and she was nominated for Filmfare Best Tamil Actress Award.

Asin received her second South Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her critically acclaimed performance in her second Blockbuster Tamil film, Ghajini (2005). Asin played the lead female roles in blockbusters such as the action comedy Varalaru (2006), the action thriller Pokkiri (2007) and the big budget production Dasavathaaram (2008) which established her as a superstar in the South. In late 2008, Asin made her début in Bollywood, with Ghajini, the remake of its Tamil namesake, subsequently winning the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award also starred in another blockbuster movie Ready (2011) opposite Salman Khan which marked her as one of the top Bollywood actress.

Early life and background

Asin was born in Kochi, Kerala, India and attended Naval Public School from L.K.G.(Pre.K) through 10th standard (grade). Asin then attended St. Teresa's School in Kochi for her Plus Two education. After that she attended St. Teresa's College for Women in Kochi, a college affiliated with MG University, where she earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in English Literature.Asin father, Joseph Thottumkal originally from a Nasrani Travancore Christian family in Thodupuzha,managed several businesses. Asin mother, Seline Thottumkal remains a surgeon, who moved settlements from Cochin to Chennai to Mumbai to live with her daughter. Asin has quoted that her name means "pure and without blemish". Asin claims that "the 'A' in her name is from Sanskrit meaning "without", and 'sin' from English".

Career

Early work: 2001–04

Asin Thottumkal debuted in a supporting role in Malayalam film Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka in 2001, at the age of 15. After taking a year out to pursue her education, Asin returned with her breakthrough film as an actress, Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi opposite Ravi Teja, portraying a Tamil girl in her first Telugu language film, which subsequently fetched her the Telugu Filmfare Award for Best Actress.In the same year she won the Santosham Best Actress Award for her performance alongside Akkineni Nagarjuna in her second Telugu film, Shivamani.Asin following two Telugu films, Lakshmi Narasimha and Gharshana, both portrayed Asin as the love interest for police officers.

Asin's first Tamil language film was M. Kumaran son of Mahalakshmi, in which she co-starred with Jayam Ravi. Asin reprised her role from her film Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi for the remake, which saw her portraying a Malayali girl instead of the Tamil girl in the original. The movie subsequently went on to become one of the biggest hits in Tamil cinema during 2004, introducing Asin to Tamil film industry.After a brief return to Telugu films, to do Chakram, she appeared in Ullam Ketkumae.The film, initially launched in 2002, is a college love story, directed by Jeeva, which was long-delayed but eventually became a successful venture at the box-office, creating wider opportunities for her and the rest of the lead cast.

Breakthrough: 2005–07

Asin in 2010

After the release of Ullam Ketkumae, Asin was cited as a leading heroine after the Tamil industry films Ghajini, Majaa, Sivakasi and Varalaru respectively.The film which provided the breakthrough for Asin was Ghajini. The film, co-starring Surya and Nayantara and directed by A. R. Murugadoss, earned her the Tamil Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Asin role was that of a vivacious young model named Kalpana. Sify.com praised her portrayal as "magical", describing her character as a "lovable chatterbox", played with "sheer ability in the romantic interludes, the poignant and heartfelt scenes when she rescues minor girls from villains and her gory end are touching".The following Diwali in 2005, Asin had two releases, Sivakasi and Majaa. Despite the latter becoming an average grosser, the former went on to be a successful venture at the box office, despite Asin's poorly etched out role.

The following year, her long-delayed venture, Varalaru opposite Ajith Kumar's hero-centric plot retreated Asin to the sidelines, but The Hindu said she "looks lustrous and sails through her role smoothly".Asin appeared in Pawan Kalyan's Annavaram, another successful venture in which she had a poorly-etched out role.In January 2007, Asin appeared opposite Ajith Kumar and Vijay in two different films, Aalwar and Pokkiri, with the latter becoming a success, whilst Aalwar became a failure. Whilst Asin's role in Aalwar was criticized, her performance in Pokkiri was lauded by critics.Asin final project of the year was opposite Surya, in Hari's Vel, which had a Diwali 2007 release, subsequently becoming her third successful film which released during the Diwali season in three years. Asin, who portrayed a TV anchor, was appreciated for her role in the film.

Success: 2008–2010

Asin appeared in her first dual role in K. S. Ravikumar's Dasavathaaram opposite Kamal Haasan, who portrayed ten roles. The film, which was under production since September 2006, became Asin's largest film till date. Despite being overshadowed by Haasan's ten roles, Asin's portrayals in the film were praised as her "best-to-date" with one of her roles being that of a Vaishnavite in 12th century Tamil Nadu; whilst the other character was a Brahmin girl from Chidambaram for which she won her first ITFA Best Actress Award.Dasavathaaram subsequently went on to become one of the biggest blockbusters in South Indian film history.

Since establishing herself as the leading actress in South India, Asin opted to move into Bollywood. Asin first film, Ghajini opposite Aamir Khan was the remake of her breakthrough film of the same name. Upon release, the film garnered positive reactions from critics and masses alike, with Asin being singled out for her "fabulous" portray. Noted critic, Taran Adarsh described her Hindi debut as "fabulous" and that "to share the screen space with an actor of the stature of Aamir Khan and yet remain in your memory even after the show has ended is no cakewalk. Asin looks fresh and photogenic and acts her part brilliantly", giving Asin's performance a positive outlook.Ghajini is currently the fourth highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time according to net collections.Asin later appeared in Vipul Shah's London Dreams alongside Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan, in which she played a member of a five-troupe band.The film received mixed reviews from critics.

After the debacle of London Dreams in which most of her scenes were chopped off, Asin rejected several Bollywood movies including Priyadarshan's De Dana Dan opposite Akshay Kumar,Delhi-6 opposite Abhishek Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar's Kartik Calling Kartikand Ashutosh Gowariker's period flick Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey opposite Abhishek Bachchan and decided to be part of Tamil movie Kaavalan.

Recent work

Kaavalan was released on 15 January 2011. The film was a critical and commercial success.Behindwoods review of the film praised her performance: "Asin, in Tamil for the first time after Dasavatharam, convinces us with her portrayal. The chemistry of the lead pair has worked out well; especially the portions where Asin tries various ways to exasperate Vijay; things that ultimately result in love". After this film, she is the highest paid south Indian actress with 2 crores.Asin next movie with Salman Khan, Ready was released on 3 June 2011 to mixed reviews.Critics praised the chemistry between Salman and Asin.Upon release, Ready became the second highest weekend grossing Bollywood film, after Dabangg and went on to became the fifth film in Bollywood history to collect more than  100 crore in the domestic market.

Asin is currently filming for Sajid Khan's Housefull 2 in London opposite Akshay Kumar.Asin will also be playing the female lead along with Prachi Desai in Rohit Shetty's Bol Bachchan, which also includes Ajay Devgan and Abhishek Bachchan. The shooting of the film is currently in progress and is slated for July 2012 release.

Other work

Philanthropy

Asin Thottumkal has decided to fund the education of Radhika, an eight-year-old orphan girl from Kerala.Asin also was part of the camps that were meant to help the Sri Lankan Tamil people who were affected by the wars in Sri Lanka during her shoot of her film Ready with Salman Khan.

Brand Ambassador

Asin is the brand ambassador for a number of products including Fairever Fairness cream, Clinic All Clear Shampoo, Parachute Hair Oil, Colgate Maxfresh Tooth paste, Mirinda (soft drink), Spinz Talcum Powder, BIG 92.7 FM Radio station, Tanishq, Goldplus Jewellery, Tata Sky and Sure (anti-perspirant).The popular soap brand Lux signed Asin as their brand ambassador in late 2010.Earlier, Asin was also signed as the brand ambassador for Amrutanjan.Asin was also the brand ambassador for Big Bazzar, with the Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Awards and honours

Asin has bagged a number of awards for her performance in various films in the Tamil, Telugu and Hindi industries, including the Kalaimamani award by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 2009.Asin also won the Giant award along with Shahid Kapoor in the same year.Asin has won various Filmfare awards and other prominent awards for her acting skills in all three major industries which she has been part of in her career. The three Filmfare awards, she has won so far includes, Filmfare Best Telugu Actress Award for Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi, Filmfare Best Tamil Actress Award for Ghajini and Filmfare Best Female Debut Award for her Hindi debut in Ghajini. Asin has also won Stardust Award for Superstar of Tomorrow - Female, IIFA Star Debut Award and Star Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Female and was also nominated for Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance in Ghajini. Apart from her Filmfare awards, she has also won Santosham Best Actress Award for her performance in Shivamani 9848022338 alongside Nagarjuna and ITFA Best Actress Award for her portrayal of a Brahmin girl opposite Kamal Haasan in Dasavathaaram.

Filmography

2001 Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka

2003 Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi

2003 Shivamani 9848022338

2004 Lakshmi Narasimha

2004 Gharshana

2004 M. Kumaran son of Mahalakshmi

2005 Chakram

2005 Ullam Ketkumae

2005 Ghajini

2005 Majaa

2005 Sivakasi

2006 Varalaru

2006 Annavaram

2007 Aalwar

2007 Pokkiri

2007 Vel

2008 Dasavathaaram

2008 Ghajini

2009 London Dreams

2011 Kaavalan

2011 Ready Hindi

2012 Housefull 2

2012 Bol Bachchan